Trap-Jaw Ant with woodlouse preymelvynyeo on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/melvynyeo/art/Trap-Jaw-Ant-with-woodlouse-prey-850132838melvynyeo

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July 31, 2020
Trap-Jaw Ant with woodlouse prey by melvynyeo
Featured by morbidman187
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Trap-Jaw Ant with woodlouse prey

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Description

Taken at night in Singapore forest.

Odontomachus, or trap-jaw ants, is a genus of omnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world.

Commonly known as trap-jaw ants, species in Odontomachus have a pair of large, straight mandibles capable of opening 180 degrees. These jaws are locked in place by an internal mechanism, and can snap shut on prey or objects when sensory hairs on the inside of the mandibles are touched. The mandibles are powerful and fast, giving the ant its common name. The mandibles either kill or maim the prey, allowing the ant to bring it back to the nest. Odontomachus can simply lock and snap its jaws again if one bite is not enough, or to cut off bits of larger food. The mandibles also permit slow and fine movements for other tasks such as nest building and care of larvae.[citation needed] The ants were also observed to use their jaws as a catapult to eject intruders or fling themselves backwards to escape a threat.[2][3]

The larvae of trap-jaw ants are remarkable[4] in being ornamented with long spikes and presenting dorsal adhesive pads for fixation onto internal ant nest walls.[5] They are carnivorous, extremely active larvae. Apparently, they undergo three larval moults before entering metamorphosis.[5] Their larvae use substrate to spin cocoons.
Image size
2400x1600px 1.39 MB
Make
Panasonic
Model
DMC-GX8
Shutter Speed
1/160 second
Aperture
F/11.0
Focal Length
60 mm
ISO Speed
100
Date Taken
Jun 20, 2020, 7:39:14 PM
Sensor Size
9mm
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Comments16
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Seraitsukara's avatar

Feel bad for the wood louse, but great picture!